Raleigh Continues To Be Named As One Of the Top “Big Cities” to Live in US

Everyone has a natural habitat. Some of us prefer the slow pace and bucolic setting of the countryside. Others are drawn to the part-rural, part-urban charm of suburbs. But more and more of us are falling in love with the energetic pulse of the large metropolis.

Big cities are growing nearly twice as fast as they did during the 21st century’s opening decade, according to Census Bureau data, with a variety of factors fueling the trend in favor of more population density. It’s all about the diversity for some, and being in the center of the action for others. Ease of access to food, entertainment and other activities also plays a role. But opportunity, both economic and personal, is the main driving force for most. The tradeoff, of course, is limited square footage. But most city dwellers agree that less wiggle room is a small price to pay for the abundance of available amenities. With real estate and employment markets varying considerably across the country, WalletHub compared the attractiveness of the 62 largest U.S. cities in terms 31 relevant metrics, including measures of livability, health- and education-system quality, economic growth and tax burden. The results, as well as expert commentary and a detailed methodology, can be found below.